Dirty

Just watched the replay of the 1987 Canada Cup. What dirty hockey the Canadian team played. Hooking, elbowing, slashing, highsticking all over the place. I am sure glad that we have cleaned that all up. That being said, now we have to limit the "bone crushing" hits that leave broken bones, concussions, and wrecked careers in their wake.

But, with the NHL lockout looming, we won't have to worry about that, will we?

A Moment in Time

It's funny how one moment in your life can change everything. Heard of a person who choked on some food. The blockage was cleared, but the oxygen supply to her brain was cut off long enough to cause permanent brain damage. One short moment, and her life, and all those connected to her changed.

Everything before that moment was fine. Suddenly, everything was different. I suppose we think about this more often when the changing event is something tragic or sad. But it happens with good things, too--wining the lottery is a case in point.

Not sure if there is a moral in all this, but it makes me realize that I should savour each moment for I never know when things will change for better or worse, but certainly for good.

Excitement

Lots of excitement around our house last night. Woke up to a squeal of tires and a bang. Jumped out of bed, looked out the window to see a car with a crunched in front end, leaking radiator, and employed air bag stalled in front of our neighbour's house. In no time three cop cars were there. Seemed the young lad, who tried to walk away before the cops came, had smashed into a car about a kilometer away, fled the scene with his wrecked car, turned onto our street, bounced off a neighbour's car, and came to rest. Cops put him into the back seat. Paramedics took one look at the car and strapped him onto a gurney, and off he went.

I bet he is enjoying the May 24 weekend, eh? We, at least, had a bit of excitement.

Shrove Tuesday

For me, Lent begins with Shrove Tuesday even though it really doesn't begin until Ash Wednesday. Tonight, folks will gather in church basements and fellowship halls, eat pancakes, drink coffee, and enjoy the communion of saints.

Why does it feel like the beginning of Lent? Because from now through Easter morning the schedule cranks up a couple of notches. Shrove Tuesday is a bit like Christmas Eve--not really Christmas but Christmas anyway.

I'll be helping with setup, serving, and clean up. And yes, I will eat my fair share of pancakes and sausages. Will you?

Heroics

I have been thinking a lot about those who risk or even lose their lives to save others. For most of us, this doesn't come naturally. Self preservation does. People who are expected to risk their lives for others are given intensive training to help them in these situations. For a few exceptional individuals, I suppose this sacrificial trait is a part of their make up.

It is easy to criticize the captain of the Costa Concordia. But what would we do in a similar situation? I'd like to think I'd stay until every last passenger and crew were safely off the ship, but until I face that situation I will never know. So, some sympathy is in order.

That said, we still have the right to expect that those in leadership will put our safety before their own.

This is my last rant on this subject.

Fearless Leaders

I think we'd all like to believe that when we are on a ship, plane, train, or bus, that in the case of an accident, the captain or one in charge would see us safely off before abandoning his/her post. We'd like to believe that. But what we have seen with the Costa Concordia this week gives us pause to wonder. Maybe the captain was suffering stress, maybe he was under-trained and his fear got the better of him, or simply he may have been a coward. Whatever. I wonder if we will ever have the same confidence in these leaders again.

But then, during war, don't the heads of state hunker down in safety rather than lead the troops into battle? Hmm...

Who Speaks for Me

I was thinking the other day: with the steady decline of membership in the moderate Christian congregations, in a few years who will be left to speak for me? I am not comfortable allowing the far right give voice to the Christian faith, for I find their views skewed and darn right scarey. This is all the more reason why we need to continue to reach out to those with moderate views.

Back Burner

Why do people say they have put their life on the back burner? When I cook, I use the back burner all the time. I don't use it to let things simmer. The back burners are great for smaller pots, and when I use them, I don't get as hot as I do when I use the front burners. Indeed, I most often cook my morning porridge on the back burner; I don't leave it sit there while I do other things--I cook there. So I guess I don't get the metaphor.

That's my rant for the day.

Winter--Finally Here

Finally, a blast of real winter, central Ontario style. Snow and coldish temperatures is what makes a Canadian winter. I was able to shovel some snow, had to wear my touque, and the car was not even fully warmed up by the time I got to work.

I know that many do not like winter, but if we are going to have winter, we might just as well have a real one. Nothing worse than freezing rain and yo-yo temperatures.

I love winter.

Sad State of Affairs

So the other day I was driving to work. There on the side of the street was a wheelchair. It was early in the morning and there was nobody around, just the empty wheelchair. So I thought, one of three things happened:

1) the rapture occurred and I was left behind;
2) there had been a miracle healer on the corner and the wheelchair person was healed and just walked away;
3) some street urchin "borrowed" the chair, taking it for a joy ride until the batteries ran dead.

After running into some people who most definitely would have been raptured, and being that the street was too remote to have a street healer working there, I decided that the last option was most likely.

And that says lots about the state of our world, don't you think?